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Paynesville Press - Nov. 5, 2003

Paynesville Township Meeting

By Michael Jacobson

The Paynesville Township Board of Supervisors took the following actions at their meeting on Monday, Oct. 27.

*The board appointed supervisor Pat Meagher and clerk Don Wiese to serve on a joint city-township committee to discuss a lease agreement with the school district. This committee also will discuss if a joint powers agreement between the city and township should be made.

Both the city and the township intend to bring an aquatic park proposal to their voters in the form of a referendum.

*The board approved changing its ordinance to allow an accessory building on a lot without a primary structure. Previously, the township ordinance required a residence before any accessory building.

After a public hearing in which the only comments were supportive of the change, the board voted to change its ordinance. This will allow residents to build a garage before a house or to build a shed for agricultural purposes.

In all cases where an accessory building is built before a primary residence, a conditional use permit is required, meaning the township board will have the authority to approve or deny such applications and to attach conditions.

*The board approved a conditional use permit for Brian and Judy Nietfeld, who plan to build a 56' by 100' storage shed on 80 acres of agricultural property along the Tri-County Road.

*The board heard a request from township resident David Kidd, who lives on Briorwood Road, asking that snowmobiles be allowed to use the new trail along NW Koronis Road. Kidd said he was landlocked until the lake freezes.

The board indicated that the trail was intended to be nonmotorized and that the township acquired easements from property owners on that basis. Snowmobiles can legally operate on township roads, they told Kidd.

They did refer the matter to the trail committee for their opinion.

*The board heard a proposal from their MSI Insurance agent, but the township board approved switching its insurance to a new self-insurance fund with the Minnesota Association of Townships. While the immediate cost is about the same, the supervisors felt that self-insuring would save money in the long run.

*The board set a variance hearing and a hearing for a conditional-use permit for the Paynesville Evangelical Free Church, which wants to erect a new sign, for Monday, Nov. 17, at 7:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. respectively.

*The board set a public hearing for a preliminary plat for Johnson Riverside Addition on Monday, Nov. 17, at 8 p.m.

*The board approved renting two stalls in the township garage, instead of one, to D & D Snowplowing for $300 per month, instead of $150 per month.



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